Natural exclamation; first recorded mid-16th century. Perhaps an unstressed variant of aye (“yes, yeah”).
The Philippine sense is possibly influenced by Tagalog e and/or Spanish eh.
Meanings
(informal, not-comparable, predicative) Of mediocre quality; unremarkable.
Natural exclamation; first recorded mid-16th century. Perhaps an unstressed variant of aye (“yes, yeah”).
The Philippine sense is possibly influenced by Tagalog e and/or Spanish eh.
Meanings
(Australia, Canada, Commonwealth, Hong-Kong, India, Ireland, New-Zealand, Singapore, South-Africa, UK, informal, qualifier:Upper Midwestern US) Used as a tag question, to emphasise what goes before or to request that the listener express an opinion about what has been said.
Well, what dost thou think then of seeing the world? Do ye wish to go round Cape Horn to see any more of it, eh? Can’t ye see the world where you stand? 1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick 16
These hot dogs are pretty good, eh?
In isolation, a request for repetition or clarification of what has just been said.
—I've been studying Graphiurus murinus. —Eh? Studying what?
In isolation, expressing surprise or confusion.
—You're going to be a dad! —Eh? You're joking!
(Canada) An interjection used to ascertain the continued attention of someone addressed by the speaker.
I went to the restaurant, eh, but my friends didn't show up.
Expressing apathy or lack of enthusiasm; meh.
“Look, Mom; I made the real rocket, based on the macaroni prototype!” “…Eh.” 2010, Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin, directors, Despicable Me:
—Do you feel like going out tonight?
—Eh, I don't know.
(Philippines) Expressing apprehension following or preceding a reasoning or excuse; uh.
ru эм (used to mean “What?”) · pl nie (used as a tag question) · de oder (used as a tag question) · es cómo (used to mean “What?”) · no hæ (used to mean “What?”) · ca eh (used to mean “What?”) · no eller hva (used as a tag question) · fa ها (used to mean “What?”) · es eh (used as a tag question) · sh ха̏ (used as a tag question) · sh ha? (used as a tag question) · eo ĉu ne (used as a tag question) · fr hein (used to mean “What?”) · no hva (used to mean “What?”) · nl hè ((Canada) interjection used to ascertain continued attention) · ru не так ли (used as a tag question) · ru м (used to mean “What?”) · es ah (used to mean “What?”) · fi vai mitä (used as a tag question) · ca oi (used as a tag question) · ang cwist þu la? (used as a tag question) · vi nhỉ (used as a tag question) · de ne ((Canada) interjection used to ascertain continued attention) · ru а (used as a tag question) · sv va (used as a tag question) · uk га (used to mean “What?”) · ru а (used to mean “What?”) · is ha (used to mean “What?”) · fr n'est-ce pas (used as a tag question) · de gell (used as a tag question) · uk правда (used as a tag question) · ja えっ (used to mean “What?”) · fi hä (used to mean “What?”) · de ne (used as a tag question) · th หา (used to mean “What?”) · pl hę (used as a tag question) · ja ね (used as a tag question) · no hæh (used to mean “What?”) · mnw ဏး (used as a tag question) · es no (used as a tag question) · ca eh (used as a tag question) · ca eh (request for repetition or clarification) · uk га (used as a tag question) · es eh ((Canada) interjection used to ascertain continued attention) · prn nā (used as a tag question) · pl co (used as a tag question) · ca eh ((Canada) interjection used to ascertain continued attention) · fr hein (used as a tag question) · de nicht wahr (used as a tag question) · ko 죠 (used as a tag question) · vi hả (used to mean “What?”) · de nicht ((Canada) interjection used to ascertain continued attention) · pt né (used as a tag question) · pl prawda (used as a tag question) · tpi a (used as a tag question) · ru правда (used as a tag question) · vi nhé (used as a tag question) · et eh (used as a tag question) · uk так (used as a tag question) · uk еге ж (used as a tag question) · it eh (used as a tag question) · th เนอะ (used as a tag question) · pt hein (used as a tag question) · it eh (used to mean “What?”) · ja だろ (used as a tag question) · ryu なー (used as a tag question) · cs hm (used as a tag question) · th นะ (used as a tag question) · tl ha (used to mean “What?”) · nl hè (used as a tag question) · no ikke sant (used as a tag question) · ask ne (used as a tag question) · es qué (used to mean “What?”) · pt hein (used to mean “What?”) · uk чи не так (used as a tag question) · es eh (used to mean “What?”) · nl hè (used to mean “What?”) · fr tu sais (used as a tag question) · fr hein ((Canada) interjection used to ascertain continued attention) · ru да (used as a tag question) · cmn 欸 (used to mean “What?”) · ko 지 (used as a tag question) · eo ĉu (request for repetition or clarification) · bsh ne (used as a tag question) · es ah (used as a tag question) · fa نه؟ (used as a tag question) · wbk nā (used as a tag question) · mi nē (used as a tag question)
Natural exclamation; first recorded mid-16th century. Perhaps an unstressed variant of aye (“yes, yeah”).
The Philippine sense is possibly influenced by Tagalog e and/or Spanish eh.
Meanings
To use the interjection eh.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
ehh
alternative
lexicographic
ay
alternative
lexicographic
ehs
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
ehhh
alternative
lexicographic
ehing
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
ehed
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
ehed
Tense=Past
lexicographic
eh en · INTJ · etymology 2
Pronunciation
[eɪ˩˦] Sense 3
[eɪ˧˨] Sense 2
[ˈe˧]
[ˈe˦˧] Sense 1
Etymology
From Hokkien 欸 (--eh) and Mandarin 欸 (ê̄ / ế / ê̌, interjection).
Meanings
(Singapore, Singlish, impolite, usually) Hey, oi; said to get someone's attention.
(Singapore) An interjection expressing disapproval.
Eh, please don’t say that...
(Singapore, with rising pitch) Huh?; expresses confusion.
(Caribbean, Singapore, Trinidad-and-Tobago, not-comparable) Used to negate the following verb; (am/are/is/do/does) not.
And she: "Ay man, watch you one foot ass. Wen I want a man, I want a good man. Me eh want man like you." 1972, Harold Sonny Ladoo, No Pain Like This Body, Toronto, Ont.: Anansi, →ISBN, page 73:
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
ehh
alternative
lexicographic
ay
alternative
lexicographic
ehhh
alternative
lexicographic
eh en · PART · etymology 5
Etymology
From Hokkien 咧 (--leh), with the l dropped.
Meanings
(Manglish, Singapore, Singlish, alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of leh.